Kahuku's Peters ready to sign with Fresno State
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i's boys and girls volleyball Players of the Year and an all-state football player have decided on colleges.
Tuli Peters, who led Kahuku to its first state girls volleyball championship in November, said she is "95 percent certain" that she will attend Fresno State.
Isaac Knuebuhl of Kamehameha, who won the boys top player honor the past two years, has signed a binding letter of intent with Cal State-Northridge.
And 2001 all-state running back Kalena Ho'okano of Kamehameha, who attended Eastern Arizona community college last fall, has signed with Portland State.
Peters said that BYU-Hawai'i was still trying to change her mind but that she expected to sign with the Bulldogs when the late signing period begins April 16.
"It's got a good academic program, the volleyball team seems strong (the Bulldogs went 23-7 and finished second to Hawai'i in the WAC last season), and La'akea Campbell (2001 all-stater from Iolani) likes it there," Peters said.
Knuebuhl, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter from Pukalani, Maui, said Northridge "scouted me from Junior Olympics. They made me feel like they would really like me to be on the team.
"I didn't want to be in the cold on the East coast," he said.
As for Kamehameha's other two first-team all-state players, Willy Melemai will go to Hawai'i and Jarrett Day is deciding between LaVerne in California and Loyola of Chicago, coach Pono Maa said.
Ho'okano, of Pearl City, led Interscholastic League of Honolulu football in rushing with 724 yards and tied for the lead in scoring with 10 touchdowns in 2001. He went to Eastern Arizona because he did not receive a Division I offer last year.
Ho'okano was a case of reverse recruiting, Portland State coach Tim Walsh said. "He pursued us. Kalena kept calling, and when we watched film, we could see that he's a good strong kid who can run hard inside. And I bet he is probably faster than anybody anticipates."
Other recent commitments:
• Hawai'i Prep's Sheri Wilhelm, two-time first-team All-Big Island soccer player and second-team All-State in 2002, has signed with Humboldt State in northern California, where another Big Island player, Gabby Ahmadia, was a leading scorer the past two years.
• Mikey Vitousek, all-Big Island offensive end for Hawai'i Prep will play football at Bowdoin (Maine).
• Cassie Ka'apu-Lyons, two-time state 100-yard breaststroke champion and co-captain for two-time state team champion Waiakea, will swim at Northern Arizona. Ka'apu-Lyons has five state gold medals.
• Campbell wide receiver Aliikea Basham committed to Eastern Washington, but will not qualify academically to play next season, said Doris Sullivan, director of student services for Pacific Sports Academy.
